Pirates seek Victory Bell

Barry Faulkner

The end of a disappointing 2004 season is hours away for the Orange

Coast College football team, which plays host to district and Mission

Conference American Division rival Golden West tonight at 5 in the

season finale for both.

The Pirates, however, are hoping to begin ringing in the 2005

campaign with the traditional postgame clatter played on the Victory

Bell that goes to game’s winner.

Golden West (3-6, 1-3 in the division) celebrated with a

collective clang last fall, 21-18, and leads the series, 19-15-2.

But Orange Coast Coach Mike Taylor believes his Pirates (1-8, 1-3)

can avoid what would be the school’s third 1-9 campaign in the last

nine seasons.

“We can win,” he said. “It’s a rivalry game and I’ve gotten a lot

of calls from former players who plan to attend. Our players know

it’s going to be our biggest crowd of the season. A victory would

sure make things a lot easier [in the off-season]. We’ve had a good

week of practice.”

A positive attitude has been difficult to maintain for Pirate

players this fall, particularly after losing fourth-quarter leads in

losses the last two weeks against Palomar and Cerritos.

Palomar produced a 5-yard touchdown pass with 28 seconds left to

claim a 10-7 triumph Oct. 30.

Cerritos scored its game-winning touchdown with 9:54 remaining for

a 27-22 win in a Nov. 6 contest in which the Pirates held leads of

7-0, 13-7 and 22-21.

“Last week (Cerritos) was like the week before (Palomar),” Taylor

said. “We took a lead and we gave up the lead.”

The Pirates have not, Taylor believes, given up on this season.

Golden West, meanwhile, has continued a mild resurgence under

Coach Ray Shackleford, in is 32nd season at the helm.

The Rustlers went 4-6 a year ago and their seven victories the

last two years are more than double the three they managed the

previous five seasons combined.

“They’re a good football team,” Taylor said of a Golden West squad

that earned a 10-7 halftime lead last week over Mt. San Antionio,

ranked No. 12 in the nation, before succumbing, 35-17.

Golden West has lost two games by two points this fall and dropped

a third by a mere three points.

Orange Coast has averaged 14.4 points this season, the fewest in

the 12-team conference, but comes off a season-high 22-point output

against Cerritos.

The Pirates are paced offensively by sophomore quarterback Kyle

Basanez and freshman tailback Matt Padilla.

Basanez, a transfer from Fordham, has completed 109 of 221 passes

for 1,418 yards. He has thrown seven touchdown passes and seven

interceptions.

Padilla, who missed nearly three games with a sprained ankle, has

rushed for 601 yards and three touchdowns on 114 carries. He posted a

season-high 142 yards and two TDs against Cerritos and has averaged

105.5 yards in four American Division games.

Basanez’s favorite target is freshman receiver Ryan Lauderdale,

who has 30 receptions for 291 yards and one touchdown this fall.

Golden West is paced by sophomore receiver Steve Yaden, who has 50

receptions for 728 yards and seven TDs this season.

“[Yaden] has my vote for American Division Offensive Player of the

Year,” Taylor said.

Yaden’s reception total ranks second in the conference.

Sophomore quarterback Todd Crabtree has thrown for 1,705 yards and

14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He has completed 149 of 250

attempts.

The Rustler running game is led by sophomore Montana transfer

Turill Engelman, who has collected 762 yards and 10 touchdowns on 170

carries.